New Year, New Beginnings

Six weeks ago the new year started and it kick started a lot of big changes. Weight loss and exercise that I took seriously this time. Downsizing our home and our stuff. Re-focusing priorities. Organizing what matters. Getting my strength back. This is not your cliche resolution made on a whim. This is a complete look at my life and anything that is bringing me down. Around here we're calling it our Fresh Start Project. It's anything but easy to take your life and shake it upside down, but so far, it's oh so worth it.

I've started and stopped blogging several times over the past couple of years. I never stuck with it but couldn't figure out why. What I've realized is that I hesitated because I didn't believe that I had something others needed to read about. I didn't want to write during the difficult times in my life because I didn't think the world needed another blog complaining about life. What's different now? My perspective. I've put one foot in front of the other to change what's not working instead of waiting for the change to come to me.

I recently heard Oprah ask someone what the world needs to know about them. She asked what their purpose was. It made me think long and hard about how I would answer that question.

What I'd tell her is that I've learned the meaning of "this too shall pass". You can reach the limit of what you think you can handle - physically, mentally, financially or even all three - and still keep going.  When you come out on the other side of this tough time you absolutely have to get what this experience has taught you, and change your life because of it. 

And that's why I'm finally ready to write.

Our "before" shot taken Dec '10. Sydney, Bella (4 months) me and Matthew